Reading machine



Jan. 7, 1930. B. A. FlSKE 1,742,640

- READING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10. 1927 2 Sheets-Shea} 1 INV NTOR B; 1 Me..1{;-

TORNEY- Jan. 7, 1930.

B. A. FISKE READING MACHINE Filed Nov.. 10-. 192'! 2 Shets-Sheet 2INVENTOR Q 50 latter position,

Patented Jan. 7, 1930 PATENT OFFICE BRADLEY A. FISKE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

READING MACHINE Application filed November 10, 1927. Serial a...282,317.

My present invention relates to various new and useful improvements inreading machines, and the principal object of the invention is toprovide a device for the purpose having the capacity of being folded invery compact form when not in use. At the same time my improved readingmachine'is efficient and convenient in operation. I

Another object is to provide simple, compact and effective mechanism bywhich the lens may be fooussedwith respect to the reading matter. Inorderthatthe invention may be better understood, attention is directedto the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and.inwhich Figure 1 is a plan view. of my improved reading machine infoldedposition;

Figure2 is a side elevation of the same;

Figu the machine in use;

Figure 4 is a side elevation. showing the machine in use; and

Figure 5 is a side elevation illustrating a modified form of theinvention.

In all of the above views corresponding parts are represented by thesame numerals.

The body or frame of the machine comprises two sheet metal strips 1 and2 made preferably of brass or steel, so as to be elastic. As is shownthey may beintegral. The strip 1 is somewhat longer than the strip 2, asshown, so as to aiiord a support for the reading matter which is carriedon a card or sheet held frictionally between the two strips.

35 To facilitate the clamping or gripping of the reading matter thestrip 2 at its forward end is so made, as at 3, as to press against thereading matter and hold the same fric-- tionally, This form alsofacilitates the ready introduction of the sheet. or card between twostrips being held frictionally. The card or sheet may be moved'in anydesired direcf tion being held flat against the strip always in thefocus of the lens. v

A handle 4 is secured to the bottom strip 1 by a suitable pivot 5, sothat said handle may be folded up in the position shown in Figure downso as to be parallel with 2 or be swung the strip 1, asshown in Figure3. "In the it forms a convenient handle re 3 is a perspective viewillustrating by whichthe machine as a whole maybe held.

An arm 6, made of somewhat heavier metal than the strips 1 and 2 butvery much narrower than the same, is secured to a rod? mounted in cars8-8 secured in any suitable way to the stri 2. A spiral spring 9encircles the rod as shown particularly'in Figure 3, and tends to pressthe lens-support-- ing arm 6 toward the strip 2.

When the machineis in use the arm 6 rests so upon a disk 10 mounted uponthe strip 2 so as to be capable of rotation. This adjust- L ing disk 10is made of gradually increasing thickness, as clearly shown in Figures 2and 3, so that it acts as a cam to adjust the lens- 05 supporting arm 6toward or away from the st'rip2 in performing a focussing operation. Theadj usting disk 10 iscut away diametrically at 11 and the two halves areconnected by a cross piece 12, by which the disk is supported on pivot13. As will be seen, the two halves of the adjusting disk arecomplementary, so that focussing of thelens will be effected by eitherhalf. When the adjusting disk is moved so as to arm 6 into line with theslot 11, the said arm will be snapped into its folded position by. thetension of the spring 9. In order that the arm 6 may clear the cross bar12 it is provided with an offset portion 14., Thereso fore, when saidarm is in folded position it rests flat against the strip 2, as shown inFigure 2.- a

The outer end of the arm 6 is provided n with a pivot'pin 15 with whichthe two eyes 16- 16 .z engage, said eyes being part of the lens frame 17carrying the lens 18 of any de sired power; By means of thisconstruction the lens is capable of a pivotal movement with respect tothe arm-6, its movement being lim- 9o ited by a stop 19, with which atail 20 on the lens frame '17 engages. A light leaf-spring 21 engagesbeneath the tail 20 so as to tend to press the same into'engagement'with the stop 19. 'When the machine is in folded position, as shown inFigure 2, the lens frame i will extend approximatelyparallel to the arm6, the tail 20 being moved out of en-. gagement witlr the stop 19, butwhen the dance is in use the lens frame will be at a bring thesupporting 75 matter.

the r ght eye,-the shutter 22 direct vision of the mg matter is intendedto Y moved out of line' withsaid the lens frame in any suitable way anis adapted to be swung up to the position shown in igure 3 when thedevice is in use. In this position the reading will be effected bycutting 011? direct vision of the left eye. If the shutter is swung to aposition 180 degrees from that shown in Figure 3 reading will be done bythe eye and in this case the shutter will cut right eye. 'When themachine is folded the shutter 22 is moved 90 degrees from the positionshown in Figure 3.and is engaged beneath a small In 23 riveted to thebar 6, as shown most c early in Fi re 3.

, s shown particularly in Figure 2, the extreme end of the handle 4 isbent at an angle, as shown at 24, so that when the arts are folded thehandle will .be put un er slight tension. This makes it easler to engagethe handleand swing it around to its open position.

' The form of reading machine which has just-been described is one inwhich the readbe carried on a sheet or card held frictional between thestrips 1 and 2. With themodified form of device shown in Figure 5, abase 25 is used adapted to rest orbe held flat against a sheet or stripof reading matter 26.v This may be a separate sheet or card or may bethe page of a book. Otherwise,

shown. The adjustmounted with respect he support 25 and eifectsthefocussing of the lens 18 With this modification the lens may be carrieddirectly on the supporting arm 6 since, when the instrument is folded,the lens will overhang the forward edge of the support 25.

v aving now described my invention what to secure sup 1 clalm as newtherein and desire by Letters Patent is as follows: a

In a reading machine, the combination to the same, and a lens supportedby said arm, of a cam rotatably mounted on said support and adapted tobe engaged by said arm, so as to ad ust the lens-towards or awayv fromsaid support, said cam being adapted to be arm so as to perbe folded,substantially as a readin a support, a ens-carrying arm pivotally lenscarried by movable out of machine, the combination mounted with respectto said su port, and a lens carried by said arm of an adiusting diskrotatably mounted on the support and comprising two complementary camportions, either one of which may be en aged by said arm in effectingfocussing, su stantially as set forth.

3. In a reading machine, the combination with a support, a lens-carryingarm pivotally mounted with respect to said su port, anda said arm, of ana justing disk rotatably mounted on the support and comupon and arallelwith one of said strips and with whic the arm may be en aged toprostantially as vide for focussing of-the lens, su set forth. 5.- In areading machine, the combination of two strips adapted to receivebetween them a sheet or'card carrying reading matter, an arm ivoted toone of said vstrips, a lens car ried y said arm, and a rotary cammounted upon and arallel with which the arm may be enga ed to providefor focussing of the lens, said cam being .llne with the armto permitfolding, substantially as set forth.

6. In a reading machine,

the printed matto be received, an arm pivotally mountone of said stri s,a cam disk mounted upon and parallel wit comprising two complementaryhalves with either one of which the arm ma .be engaged to effectfocussing, the space etween said half. providing a slot for the racetion of said arm when the machine is fol ed, substantially as setforth.-

In a reading machine, the combination with a sup ort, a lens arm carriedby said rt and movable pivotally with respect to t e same, and a lenssupported by said arm, 0 a cam rotatably mounted on and parallel awafort with one of said strips and one of said strips and the combinationV

